There's no doubt that beach cleanups have become a popular activity for environmentalists and volunteer groups along coastal communities. People gather with gloves, trash bags, and a sense of purpose to rid shorelines of plastic bottles, caps, endless cigarette butts, and other types of debris. Open Water organizes many of these cleanups with our partners (both nonprofits like Charleston Waterkeeper as well as groups like the LA Clippers/Intuit Dome).

But do these efforts make a real difference? Yes, but only if done right.

The Scale of Marine Pollution

The ocean is vast, covering more than 70% of the Earth's surface, yet it faces an immense pollution crisis. Scientists estimate that over 8 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean every year. This pollution harms marine life, disrupts ecosystems, and even threatens human health through the food chain. While beach cleanups tackle some of this visible waste, they do not address the root cause: the continuous flow of plastic into the ocean.

What Beach Cleanups Accomplish

Despite their limitations, beach cleanups provide several tangible and intangible benefits. Here are some of the main positive impacts:

1. Immediate Waste Removal

One of the most obvious benefits of beach cleanups is the immediate removal of harmful trash. Items such as plastic bottles, cigarette butts, fishing nets, and plastic caps are picked up before they can break down further or be ingested by wildlife. By removing this waste, volunteers help prevent direct harm to marine animals and improve the overall aesthetic of the shoreline.

2. Microplastic Reduction

Experts from Norce, one of Norway's largest research organizations, found that within a year of volunteers removing bottles, bags and other large pieces of plastic from island shorelines, the amount of microplastics on land and in the water fell by 99.5%.

3. Raising Awareness

Beach cleanups serve as a powerful educational tool. Participants (and onlookers), many of whom may not have considered the extent of the pollution problem, gain firsthand experience in dealing with ocean debris. This experience can inspire individuals to change their habits—reducing their use of single-use plastics, supporting environmental policies, and spreading awareness within their communities.

4. Data Collection for Research

Many organized beach cleanups also contribute to scientific research by collecting data on the types and amounts of waste found. Organizations such as Ocean Conservancy and The Surfrider Foundation track this data to identify trends in pollution sources and advocate for changes in production and waste management policies.

5. Strengthening Communities

Beach cleanups bring people together for a common cause. They foster a sense of responsibility and environmental stewardship, encouraging local communities to work together in maintaining their natural surroundings. This sense of unity can lead to broader environmental initiatives and long-term change beyond just one cleanup event. Additionally, cleanups don’t require equipment or special skills, meaning it’s a realistic way everyone, from anywhere, can have an impact.

The Limitations of Beach Cleanups

While beach cleanups are beneficial, they are not a comprehensive solution to marine pollution. Here's why:

1. Temporary Fix

Beach cleanups address the symptoms rather than the cause. As soon as a cleanup is completed, new waves bring in fresh debris from the ocean, and pollution continues to accumulate from land-based sources. Without systemic changes in plastic production, waste management, and consumer behavior, cleanups will always be playing catch-up.

2. Unreachable Waste

While volunteers can remove large debris, microplastics (tiny plastic particles from degraded waste) are much harder to clean up. These tiny pollutants, along with waste that sinks to the ocean floor or floats in remote areas, remain largely unaddressed by beach cleanups.

How to Make Beach Cleanups More Effective

Since beach cleanups alone are not enough to solve the ocean plastic pollution crisis, they should be part of a broader strategy for environmental protection. Here’s how they can be more effective:

1. Pair Cleanups with Advocacy

Participants should use beach cleanups as a launching pad for larger environmental activism. This can include advocating for plastic bans, supporting policies that regulate waste disposal, and pressuring corporations to reduce plastic usage both in their products and operations. The data collected from cleanups can serve as evidence for the need for stronger policies.

2. Focus on Prevention

Preventing pollution at the source is far more effective than removing it from the environment. Governments, businesses, and individuals need to prioritize reducing plastic consumption, improving waste management systems, and making use of sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics. Materials that get recycled more often and more efficiently (like aluminum and other metals) are a good starting point.

3. Expand Cleanups to Inland Areas

Since a significant portion of ocean pollution originates from land, organizing cleanups in cities, rivers, and parks can prevent waste from ever reaching the shoreline. Tackling pollution at its source minimizes the amount that ends up in marine ecosystems.

4. Improve Waste Processing

Simply picking up trash is not enough—what happens to the waste after collection is just as important. Cleanups should ensure that collected trash is properly sorted, recycled where possible, and disposed of responsibly to prevent it from re-entering the environment.

Conclusion: Are Beach Cleanups Worth It?

Beach cleanups, while not a perfect solution, are undoubtedly worthwhile. They provide immediate environmental benefits, educate participants, and contribute to scientific research. However, they should not be seen as a substitute for addressing the larger issue of plastic pollution at its source.

For beach cleanups to have a lasting impact, they must be combined with policy changes, corporate responsibility, and consumer behavior shifts. By tackling pollution from multiple angles, we can work toward a future where cleanups are no longer necessary because our oceans remain naturally pristine. Until then, beach cleanups remain a meaningful act of environmental care.

Find a Surfrider volunteer cleanup opportunity here.